I find it curious that some New Yorkers see Fernando Ferrer's refusal to accept Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's request for an extension of his term as a principled stand, while Mark Green's agreement to the mayor's proposal is viewed as political posturing. Remember that just months ago, Mr. Ferrer was courting the Rev. Al Sharpton, pining for his endorsement.

All candidates meld political considerations into their decisions. This is not necessarily a bad thing, nor does it negate their sincerity. Nothing occurs in a vacuum, and the sooner the public accepts this, the sooner it will be able to judge candidates more fairly and realistically.